Mozambique vs Senegal at 1 p.m.: the Lions attack the “Mambas” to launch the Vieira era September 25, 2026

The race to qualify for the 2027 African Football Cup of Nations (Can), in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, starts this Friday for Senegal. Traveling to Maputo, the Lions face Mozambique with the obligation to get off to a good start before hosting Ethiopia.

A new adventure begins for the national team this Friday, September 25. This match against Mozambique will be the Lions’ first since the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Belgium (3-2). Since then, Pape Thiaw and his staff have been fired by the Senegalese Football Federation and replaced by Patrick Vieira. The French technician will have to maintain at the top of the continent a team which has played leading roles since 2019, with three African Cup finals, two of which they won.

For his debut, Vieira will be deprived of Édouard Mendy, who announced his international retirement, of Sadio Mané, injured, but also of Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr, suspended two matches by Caf after the Can 2025 final against Morocco. The new coach, however, has not made a clean slate. Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gana Guèye and Moussa Niakhaté remain executives, while novices like Lamine Sy, Sadibou Sané, Demba Thiam, Mamour Ndiaye and Issa Soumaré have been called to bring in new blood.

This first match will be particularly scrutinized: it will give the first orientations of Vieira, expected by supporters who are counting on the 1998 world champion to straighten out the Lair. With several absences, the technician will have to find the right formula. In goal, Yehvann Diouf and Mory Diaw compete. On the right, Lamine Sy should take advantage of the absences of Krépin Diatta and Antoine Mendy to honor his first cape. In the middle, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye could also benefit from playing time.

In attack, the suspensions of Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr offer an opportunity to Mamadou Diakhon, Assane Diao and Issa Soumaré. Reigning African champion (pending the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport), Senegal will have to assume its status against Mozambique. The “Mambas” have never beaten the Lions, who have won in their last three confrontations. The first duel dates back to Can 1986, in Egypt, with a Senegalese victory (2-0).

During the CAN 2023 qualifiers, Senegal largely dominated Mozambique in Dakar (5-1), before winning on the return leg (1-0). The Lions will nevertheless have to be wary of the selection led by Chiquinho Condé, which has 25 players, seven of whom play in Europe, starting with the attacking midfielder of Sporting Lisbon, Geny Catamo. Kalidou Koulibaly and his teammates must win before attacking Ethiopia on Tuesday September 29.

Julien Mbesse SÈNE